Tacoma Council Ghosts Water Works Bidders, Raising Questions of Corruption
Four engineers waited two hours to present plans for a gravity water system. Not a single council member showed, and observers whispered the fix was in for the private water company.
Tacoma, March 23.—[Special.]—Robert Wingate, C. B. Talbot, Fred O. Plummer and George H. Hollidge, who have propositions for the building of gravity systems of water before the city council, were requested to be present this morning before the fire and water committee to state their proposals in detail. They were all on hand and waited two hours, but not a member of the city council committee put in an appearance. Of course, the gentlemen who were notified that they would be given a hearing were much disgusted, and said so. It is intimated that the present city council is not interested in securing a wholesome supply of water for the city of Tacoma, and that if they represented the light and water company faithfully they could not conscientiously hear any proposals not made or sanctioned by it.
“It is intimated that the present city council is not interested in securing a wholesome supply of water for the city of Tacoma, and that if they represented the light and water company faithfully they could not conscientiously hear any proposals not made or sanctioned by it.”
Then as now, city councils face accusations of favoring private utilities over public infrastructure. The snub of independent water proposals in 1893 echoes modern debates over public versus private control of essential services.
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